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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


New device stores electricity on silicon chips

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 05:51 PM PDT

Solar cells that produce electricity 24/7. Cell phones with built-in power cells that recharge in seconds and work for weeks between charges: These are just two of the possibilities raised by a novel supercapacitor design invented by material scientists.

Screening guidelines may miss ten percent of colon cancers

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 03:31 PM PDT

For people with a family history of adenomas (colon polyps that lead to colon cancer), up to 10 percent of colorectal cancers could be missed when current national screening guidelines are followed.

Baby's innate number sense predicts future math skill

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:08 PM PDT

A new study suggests that the strength of an infant's innate sense of numerical quantities can be predictive of that child's mathematical abilities three years later.

Researchers propose social network modeling to fight hospital infections

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:08 PM PDT

Researchers are helping to prevent costly and deadly infections acquired by hospitalized patients by using computer models that simulate interactions between patients and health care workers to determine if these interactions are a source for spreading multi-drug resistant organisms.

Researchers advance scheme to design seamless integrated circuits etched on graphene

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:08 PM PDT

Researchers have introduced an integrated circuit design scheme in which transistors and interconnects are monolithically patterned seamlessly on a sheet of graphene, a 2-D plane of carbon atoms.

Mutual fund managers invest similarly because of competitive pressures, might miss good investments

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:08 PM PDT

A researcher has found that institutional mutual fund investors tend to invest in companies that have an independent board of directors because it is perceived as a "safer" option, even though no evidence exists that demonstrates these companies perform better in the stock market.

New artificial protein mimics part of HIV outer coat

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:06 PM PDT

A team of scientists has created an artificial protein coupled with a sugar molecule that mimics a key site on the outer coat of HIV where antibodies can bind to neutralize a wide variety of HIV strains.

Brief risk-reduction counseling at HIV testing does not result in reduction of STIs

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:06 PM PDT

Brief risk-reduction counseling at the time of a rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test was not effective for reducing new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during the subsequent 6 months among persons at risk for HIV, according to a study.

Flu vaccine associated with lower risk of cardiovascular events

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:06 PM PDT

Receiving an influenza vaccination was associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart failure or hospitalization for heart attack, with the greatest treatment effect seen among patients with recent acute coronary syndrome.

Theatre offers promise for youth with autism

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 11:37 AM PDT

A novel autism intervention program using theatre to teach reciprocal communication skills is improving social deficits in adolescents with the disorder that now affects an estimated one in 88 children.

4-D printing technology for composite materials developed

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 11:10 AM PDT

Researchers have successfully added a fourth dimension to their printing technology, opening up exciting possibilities for the creation and use of adaptive, composite materials in manufacturing, packaging and biomedical applications.

Heavy air pollution in Canadian area with cancer spikes

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 10:21 AM PDT

Levels of contaminants higher than in some of the world's most polluted cities have been found downwind of Canada's largest oil, gas and tar sands processing zone, in a rural area where men suffer elevated rates of cancers linked to such chemicals.

Study points to possible treatment for brain disorders

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 10:20 AM PDT

Scientists are working to determine how neurons are generated, which is vital to providing treatment for neurological disorders like Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.

Shifting winds in turbine arrays

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 10:16 AM PDT

Researchers modeling how changes in air flow patterns affect wind turbines' output power have found that the wind can supply energy from an unexpected direction: below.

Hydrogel implant enables light-based communication with cells inside body

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:36 AM PDT

As researchers develop novel therapies based on inducing specific cells to do specific things, getting the right message to the right group of cells at the right time remains a major challenge. Now researchers have developed a way to deliver a light signal to specific cells deep within the body.

'A permanent talent underclass': 'Excellence gap' among American students charted

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:35 AM PDT

A new report finds that high-performing American students are disproportionately white and well-off.

Copper shock: An atomic-scale stress test

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:35 AM PDT

Scientists used a powerful X-ray laser to create movies detailing trillionths-of-a-second changes in the arrangement of copper atoms after an extreme shock. Movies like these will help researchers create new kinds of materials and test the strength of existing ones.

Classification system proposed for green roofs

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:35 AM PDT

A proposed classification system aims to better identify the unique characteristics and benefits of green roofs amid a growing industry.

The mysterious scarab beetles: Two new species of the endangered ancient genus Gyronotus

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:35 AM PDT

Famous as the sacred beetles of ancient Egypt the scarab beetle group in fact represents much greater diversity around the globe. Scientists discover two new species of the ancient and highly important from a conservation point of view genus Gyronotus.

Model plant misled scientists about multicellular growth

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:35 AM PDT

Scientists have misunderstood one of the most fundamental processes in the life of plants because they have been looking at the wrong flower, according to researchers.

Climate change increased the number of deaths

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:34 AM PDT

The increased temperatures caused by ongoing climate change in Stockholm, Sweden between 1980 and 2009 caused 300 more premature deaths than if the temperature increase did not take place. In Sweden as a whole, it would mean about 1,500 more premature deaths.

Amping up solar in the snowy north

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:34 AM PDT

What's the best way to capture photovoltaic energy where snowfall is measured in feet?

Low-priced plastic photovoltaics

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 08:34 AM PDT

Photovoltaic devices offer a green -- and potentially unlimited -- alternative to fossil fuel use. So why haven't solar technologies been more widely adopted? Quite simply, they're too expensive. Researchers have now come up with a technology that might help bring the prices down.

Death by moonlight? Not always

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 07:22 AM PDT

Is moonlight dangerous? It depends on what you are, according to a new study. "Ecologists have long viewed the darkness of a moonless night as a protective blanket for nocturnal prey species," said a wildlife biologist.

Time is ripe for fire detection satellite, say scientists

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 07:22 AM PDT

Wildfire detection today is much like it was 200 years ago, relying primarily on humans to spot smoke plumes or flames. Experts in fires, satellites and remote sensing now say that the technology is ripe for a fire-spotting satellite that could snap images of the US West every few seconds to detect fires before they spread with few false alarms. The cost would be a fraction of the country's annual fire-fighting budget.

Study of decline of malaria in the US could affect approach to malaria epidemic abroad

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 07:22 AM PDT

A study of the eradication of the mosquito-borne disease in the US has implications for the approach to malaria abroad, according to scientists.

Light as medicine? Researchers explain how

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 07:22 AM PDT

Scientists have known for years that certain wavelengths of light in certain doses can heal, but they are only now uncovering exactly how it works.

Coffee consumption reduces risk of liver cancer, analysis suggests

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 07:22 AM PDT

Coffee consumption reduces risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer, by about 40 percent, according to an up-to-date meta-analysis. Further, some data indicate that three cups of coffee per day reduce liver cancer risk by more than 50 percent.

Long-sought pattern of ancient light detected

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 07:10 AM PDT

The journey of light from the very early universe to modern telescopes is long and winding. The ancient light traveled billions of years to reach us, and along the way, its path was distorted by the pull of matter, leading to a twisted light pattern. This twisted pattern of light, called B-modes, has at last been detected. The discovery, which will lead to better maps of matter across our universe, was made using the National Science Foundation's South Pole Telescope, with help from the Herschel space observatory.

Spatial, written language skills predict math competence

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 06:18 AM PDT

New longitudinal research from Finland has found that children's early spatial skills and knowledge of written letters, rather than oral language skills, predict competence in math. The study included over 1,800 children and has implications for the STEM fields and workforces.

High school student discovers skeleton of baby dinosaur

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT

A chance find by a high school student led to the youngest, smallest and most complete fossil skeleton yet known from the iconic tube-crested dinosaur Parasaurolophus. The discovery shows that the prehistoric plant-eater sprouted its strange headgear before it celebrated its first birthday. Three-dimensional scans of nearly the entire fossil are available online, making this the most digitally accessible dinosaur to date.

Numerical validation of quantum magnetic ordering

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT

Numerical simulations designed to confirm the magnetic characteristics of 3D quantum materials largely match the theoretical predictions. A new study set out to use numerical simulations to validate previous theoretical predictions describing materials exhibiting so-called antiferromagneting characteristics. A recently discovered theory shows that the ordering temperature depends on two factors-namely the spin-wave velocity and the staggered magnetization.

Genome of aggressive lymphoma sequenced

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 06:16 AM PDT

Mantle cell lymphoma is a very aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancer originated in blood cells and lymph nodes. To identify the molecular alterations responsible for this tumor, and facilitate the development of new treatments, a team of scientists has sequenced the genomes of over 30 of lymphomas. The result of this work presents the first comprehensive genomic analysis of this disease.

Lasers offer an automated way to test drinking water

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 06:16 AM PDT

To keep drinking water clean, experts are constantly monitoring our supply to check it for contaminants. Now laser technology will give them a helping hand: a new system automatically analyzes water samples at the waterworks itself.

Production of non-toxic flame retardants simplified

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 06:16 AM PDT

Electronics, vehicles, textiles – almost all modern-day products contain some form of plastic. Its high combustibility means it must be protected from naked flames. New techniques simplify the production of environmentally friendly flame retardants.

How climate change affects microbial life below the seafloor

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 06:15 AM PDT

Sediments from the deep sea give insight into the dynamics of the deep biosphere. This "Deep Biosphere", reaching several hundred metres below the seafloor, is exclusively inhabited by microbes and is generally considered as stable. Nevertheless, only little is known about how this system developed over millennia and how this microbial life influences the cycling of carbon in the oceans.

Fat and fit: How dormice make optimal use of their body fat reserves

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 06:15 AM PDT

Edible dormice store considerable amounts of fat in summer. Their fat reserves are necessary for them to survive a long hibernation – on average 8 months – in underground cavities. But how do hibernators allocate surplus body fat reserves to optimize survival? Researchers have found that animals with larger fat reserves prefer boosting their metabolism more often to shortening their hibernation.

Scientists use Flickr photos to assess value of natural tourist attractions

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:17 PM PDT

Scientists use social media -- vacation photos from Flickr -- to study how people use natural areas for tourism and recreation.

Nitrogen fertilizer remains in soils, leaks towards groundwater for decades

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:17 PM PDT

Nitrogen fertilizer applied to crops lingers in the soil and leaks out as nitrate for decades towards groundwater -- "much longer than previously thought," scientists say in a new study. Thirty years after synthetic nitrogen fertilizer had been applied to crops in 1982, about 15 percent of the fertilizer still remained in soil organic matter, these scientists found.

Moderate to vigorous exercise boosts teens' academic performance

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:17 PM PDT

Regular moderate to vigorous exercise improves teens' academic performance, and particularly seems to help girls do better in science, indicates research.

Earthquake-triggered landslides pose significant hazard for Seattle, new study details potential damage

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:17 PM PDT

A new study suggests the next big quake on the Seattle fault may cause devastating damage from landslides, greater than previously thought and beyond the areas currently defined as prone to landslides. New research offers a framework for simulating hundreds of earthquake scenarios for the Seattle area.

Genetic diversity of the panda immune system

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:16 PM PDT

The genetic diversity within the immune system of giant panda is relatively high, according to an analysis that suggests they may be better suited to adapt to the changing environment than was previously thought. Scientists categorize the remaining six populations of giant panda according to their genetic diversity and recommend specific populations that could be bred in captivity in order to keep the population healthy.

Long-term obesity associated with poorer pancreatic cancer survival

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:14 PM PDT

New results from a study show that patients with a body mass index (BMI) in the obese range live on average two to three months less after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, compared with healthy weight patients, even after adjusting for factors that are known to predict survival for patients with this disease, such as age and disease stage.

Growing up poor, stressed impacts brain function as adult

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:14 PM PDT

Poverty, coupled with stress, has long-lasting effects on brain function, according to a new study. Researchers found that test subjects who had lower family incomes at age 9 exhibited, as adults, greater activity in the amygdala, an area in the brain known for its role in fear and other negative emotions. These individuals showed less activity in areas of the prefrontal cortex, an area in the brain thought to regulate negative emotion.

Single mutation gives virus new target

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 01:26 PM PDT

A mutation as minute as swapping just one amino acid can completely change the target that a virus will bind to on a victim cell -- potentially shifting what kind of cell and eventually what kind of organism a virus could infect.

Shorter sleep duration, poorer sleep quality linked to Alzheimer’s disease

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 01:25 PM PDT

New study finds that shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep quality are associated with a greater ²-Amyloid burden, a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease

Bottle feeding associated with increased risk of infant stomach obstruction

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 01:25 PM PDT

Bottle feeding appears to increase the risk infants will develop hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS), a form of stomach obstruction, and that risk seems to be magnified when mothers are older and have had more than one child.

A chameleon in the physics lab

Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:57 PM PDT

Active camouflage has taken a step forward with a new coating that intrinsically conceals its own temperature to thermal cameras.

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